The launch of the national children’s help line 116 111

1 January 2009 saw the launch of the national children’s help line 116 111. The help line will allow people to inform the authorities of any children in need when they need it and will offer both children and adults useful information, advice and initial guidance for dealing with crisis situations.

“It’s very important that anyone who notices a child in trouble let someone know about it straight away,” said Maret Maripuu, the Estonian Minister of Social Affairs. “No child should be allowed to fall victim to humiliation, abandonment, violence or abuse.”

The help line is designed primarily for children, so that they can ask for the help or advice they don’t feel able to ask their parents or other adults for or if they have questions which their parents are unable to answer. The help line is also open to calls from both children and adults seeking advice on what to do in complicated situations and where to get help, counselling and services. Callers can also ask questions about laws, institutions and other subjects connected to children.

Maripuu says that informing the authorities of children in danger should not be viewed as ‘dobbing someone in’. “We’ve gone beyond the point in situations like these of thinking along the lines of ‘let them sort out their own problems’ or ‘it is not my place to interfere’. Informing someone is vital so that we can offer families the help and advice they need and extricate children from dangerous situations as quickly as possible.”

The help line operates 24 hours a day. Calls are free of charge from both fixed line and mobile phones. Callers can be assisted in Estonian, Russian and English. The accompanying website has also been launched.

The service is being provided by Arstlik Perenõuandla OÜ, the same company behind the GP help line 1220.

National children’s help lines have already been launched or are in the planning stage in many European Union countries. At the end of 2006 a liaison committee of member state representatives approved a draft reserving telephone numbers throughout the EU beginning with the digits 116 for social services. It was also decided that 116 111 would be adopted as the children’s help line number everywhere in Europe.

Journalists please note: At 11.00 am today, 6 January, a press conference will be held at the Ministry of Social Affairs introducing the new help line. Speaking at the press conference will be Minister of Social Affairs Maret Maripuu, family policy and Deputy Secretary-General for Social Affairs Riho Rahuoja and children’s help line project manager Külli Friedemann from Arstlik Perenõuandla OÜ.

Jana Zdanovitš
Press Officer
Public Relations Department
Ministry of Social Affairs
Telephone: +372 626 9323
Mobile: +372 50 57 135
jana.zdanovits|a|sm.ee